What Documents Do You Need for a Private Property-Backed Loan in Costa Rica?

July 2, 2026
Due Diligence & Property Risk, Loan Requirements, Loan Terms & LTV

A private property-backed loan in Costa Rica starts with clear information about the property, the requested amount, and the repayment plan. You do not need to have every document perfectly organized before making contact, but the better the starting file, the easier it is to determine whether the request may be practical.

Private lenders do not review a loan the same way as a traditional bank. GAP does not require or pull a credit score. Instead, the review focuses on the Costa Rica property, title, realistic value, existing debt, ownership structure, requested amount, use of funds, payment plan, and expected exit.

GAP coordinates qualified property-backed financing requests with private lenders and may participate directly in selected cases. An early review is not an approval, funding commitment, or promise of terms. It is the first step in understanding whether the property and overall request make practical sense.

Start With the Basic Property Information

The property is the lender’s security, so the first review normally begins with its location, condition, ownership, and marketability. A lender needs enough information to understand what is being offered as collateral.

Helpful starting information includes:

Google Maps, Waze, or WhatsApp location pin
Current property photos, including the road, driveway, exterior, land, improvements, and surrounding area
Folio Real or current ownership information, if available
Plano Catastro, the registered survey plan, if available
Lot size, construction size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and other basic details
Information about water, access, permits, construction, or improvements when relevant
Estimated value, recent purchase price, appraisal, listing information, or comparable-property support

Good landscape photos are especially useful. They should show the approach to the property, road condition, access, driveway, land shape, views, buildings, and nearby surroundings. A few clear photos are more useful than many close-up photos that do not show the property in context.

Documents That Help Confirm Ownership and Title

Before a lender can rely on a property as security, the title situation needs to be understood. The available documents help identify the registered owner and reveal issues that may affect a first-lien closing.

Depending on the request, the lender or closing attorney or notary may need to review:

Current Folio Real information
Plano Catastro or survey plan
Known mortgages, liens, annotations, unpaid taxes, legal claims, or disputes
Existing loan statements or payoff information when there is a current mortgage
Property-tax or municipal information when relevant
Water, construction-permit, condominium, concession, or zoning information when applicable
Passport, DIMEX, cédula, or other identification for the owner or authorized signer

GAP uses first-lien security only. With a typical titled property, this commonly means a registered first-position mortgage on the Costa Rica property. Some lenders may require a trust structure instead.

If there is an existing mortgage or lien, that does not automatically end the discussion. The current debt, payoff amount, title position, property equity, and closing structure need to be reviewed early to determine whether the new lender can be properly secured in first position.

Information About the Loan Request

The lender also needs a simple, direct explanation of what is being requested and why. A borrower should be able to explain the transaction clearly in a few sentences.

Provide:

The requested amount in US dollars
The exact use of funds
The estimated value of the property
Any existing debt secured by the property
The amount of equity the borrower has in the property
The preferred timing, if there is a purchase, payoff, construction, or business deadline
Whether the request involves an individual, corporation, trust, or other ownership structure

Private lenders look closely at loan-to-value, often called LTV. This compares the requested amount with the property’s realistic supportable value. For example, a $150,000 request against a property realistically valued at $500,000 equals 30% LTV.

$150,000 ÷ $500,000 = 30% LTV

Some stronger requests may support up to around 50% LTV. Requests closer to 30% to 40% are often easier to structure when the property, title, legal structure, repayment plan, and expected exit are strong.

For more detail, read What Loan-to-Value Means for Costa Rica Property Loans.

How Will Interest Be Paid and the Principal Repaid?

The property provides security for the lender. It is not the repayment plan.

A borrower needs to explain two things:

How the agreed interest payments will be made during the loan term
How the principal balance will be repaid at maturity

Private property-backed loans commonly have terms from six months to three years. Many use interest-only payments during the agreed term, with the principal balance due at maturity.

The supporting information may be different for every borrower. Depending on the request, it may include business income, rental income, retirement income, investment income, a sale of another property, committed capital, a future refinance supported by realistic value, or another documented source.

A planned sale or refinance can be part of the repayment plan, but neither should be assumed. The stronger file explains why the plan is realistic and includes a backup exit if the original timeline changes.

For more detail, read Why a Repayment Plan Matters for a Costa Rica Private Loan.

Additional Documents for Corporation-Owned Property

When a Costa Rica corporation owns the property, the lender must understand both the real estate and the company that controls it. A shareholder does not automatically have authority to borrow against or grant security over corporation-owned property.

The lender or closing attorney or notary may need:

Corporation name and legal identification number
Current legal-representative information
Corporate records and signing-authority documents
Information about shareholders or beneficial owners when needed
Corporate tax status and other current company information
Required company approvals for the proposed transaction
Identification for the authorized signer

Outdated company records, unclear signing authority, shareholder disputes, or missing approvals can delay the review. These issues do not always make financing impossible, but they should be identified before legal work and closing arrangements begin.

Documents That May Be Needed for Construction or Development

A completed home and a construction or development request are not reviewed the same way. If loan funds will be used for construction, renovation, infrastructure, subdivision work, or development, the lender may need more detail.

This may include:

Construction plans, scope of work, and budget
Construction permits and municipal information
Water availability and utility information
Contractor details and construction timeline
Current construction photos and completion status
Projected sale, rental, or refinance plan
Market support for the completed project

A well-organized Google Drive folder can help for larger commercial, development, construction, or multi-owner requests. Label folders clearly so the lender can quickly find title information, property photos, company records, budgets, permits, and repayment support.

What Can Slow Down a Private Loan Review?

No clear property location or usable photos
Value based only on an optimistic asking price
Missing ownership or title information
Existing liens, mortgages, taxes, annotations, or legal claims that were not disclosed
Unclear property access, water, permits, or construction details
Incomplete corporate records or unclear signing authority
No explanation of how interest payments will be made
No credible plan to repay the principal balance
Requested amount that is too high for the property’s realistic value
Documents that conflict with the borrower’s description of the transaction

These items do not automatically mean a lender will decline the request. They may mean more information is needed, the requested amount should be lower, title or corporate records need attention, or the repayment plan needs to be stronger.

You Do Not Need to Wait for a Perfect File

Borrowers sometimes delay contact because they do not yet have every document. That is not necessary. Start with the property location, photos, requested amount, estimated value, ownership details, known liens, use of funds, and repayment plan.

GAP can then explain what further information may be needed for a practical review. This helps avoid unnecessary legal costs or time spent preparing documents that do not apply to the request.

How to Start a Property-Backed Loan Review

GAP reviews qualified property-backed financing requests starting at $50,000. After GAP has a complete file and due diligence is finished, qualified loans can often close in about 10 business days. Timing depends on the property, title, legal structure, documentation, lender review, and closing requirements.

To begin, contact GAP at WhatsApp +506 4001 6413, USA/Canada 855-562-6427, or info@gap.cr.

Private Loan Documents in Costa Rica FAQ

What documents do I need to begin a private loan review?

Start with the property location, photos, requested amount, estimated value, ownership details, known liens, use of funds, repayment plan, and identification. Further documents depend on the property and loan structure.

Do I need an appraisal before contacting GAP?

Not always. An appraisal, recent purchase information, listing information, or comparable-property support can be helpful. GAP can review the basic information first and explain what value support may be needed.

What documents are needed if a corporation owns the property?

The lender may need current legal-representative information, company records, signing-authority documents, required corporate approvals, shareholder or beneficial-owner information when needed, and identification for the authorized signer.

Do I need to provide a credit score?

No. GAP does not require or pull a credit score. Each request is reviewed individually based on the property, title, realistic value, requested amount, legal structure, repayment plan, and expected exit.

Can a property with an existing mortgage still be reviewed?

Possibly. The existing debt, payoff amount, title position, property equity, and closing structure need to be reviewed so the new lender can be properly secured in first position.

What is the minimum loan amount GAP reviews?

GAP reviews qualified property-backed financing requests starting at ,000. Each request depends on the property, title, realistic value, legal structure, repayment plan, lender review, and closing requirements.

Article by Glenn Tellier (Founder of CRIE and Grupo Gap)